AN MP has branded plans to market cross-Border booze tours “silly” – because “you don’t need to advertise to a Scotsman where to find cheap beer”.

Members of the Labour group on Northumberland County Council have called for an advertising blitz to cash in when Scotland’s new minimum unit price for alcohol comes in next year.

But Ronnie Campbell, Labour MP for Blyth Valley in Northumberland, said: “Advertising would be silly.

“It’s encouraging drinking and it would be a waste of money – you don’t need to advertise to a Scotsman where to find cheap beer.”

But the former miner insisted that he was not insulting the Scots. He added: “I drink with a few of the Scottish lads in the Commons.

“It would be the same if the price increase was coming here. We would be on the way up and stop at the first supermarket we saw.

“You don’t have to tell Geordies about cheap booze either.”

Earlier this week, retailers and politicians in English Border towns hit out at the proposal for an advertising campaign. Those in favour claimed shops in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth – with easy access to the A1 – would profit from the campaign.